Vending machine



Jan. 13, 1959 w. H. sHlELns VENDING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. l0, 1955 Jan. 13, 1959 w. H. sHll-:LDs VENDING MACHINE Filed Jan. lO, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 @im Wenden H .Shmds (www ATT

w. H. SHIELDs VENDING MACHINE INN Jan. 13, 1959 Filed Jan. 1o, 1955 United States Patent Office 2,868,344 `Patented Jan. 13," 1959 VENDING MACHINE Wendell H. Shields, Grand Rapids, Mich. Application January 10, 1955, Serial No. 480,905 Claims. (Cl. 194-10) This invention relates to vending machines particularly intended to dispense rather sizeable articles one at a time. The machine is particularly designed to dispense refrigerated foods, such as milk or ice cream in cartons, from a cooled room or chamber, but it will operate to vend other articles at any ordinary temperature.

The machine is intended to be located in a closed room or chamber where it or its contents can not be tampered with and is to be controlled by a suitable coin actuated mechanism available for inserting coins from outside the chamber. The machine, when activated by insertion of a coin will `deliver an article into a chute which will convey the article to the outside of the chamber from where it can be picked up by the customer.

The articles arel preferably fed to a dispensing point by gravity and an electric motor, started by insertion of a coin, will dispense an article into the chute, such dispensing movement of the article stopping operation of the motor so that no more articles will be delivered until insertion of another coin.

The invention provides various new and useful features of construction and arrangement hereafter more fully described, reference being had `to the accompanying drawings in which,

` Fig. l is a side elevation of the Vending machine with parts broken away.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the machine on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan` view, with parts broken away, of the delivery end of the machine,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional elevation, with parts broken away, on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional elev tion on the line S-Scf Fig. 2, and

Fig. 6is a diagram of the electrical circuit which operates the machine.

Like reference numbers refer iigures.

The machine has a frame consisting of various members designated as 1 which are rigidly joined together in suitable fashion. An inclined slide 2 is located in the upper part of the machine and slants downwardly toward the delivery end. This slide supports the articles to be dispensed and its inclination is suicient that articles `will slide `downwardly thereon by gravity. The slide is wide enough to provide several guideways such as four or six and each guideway preferably has two longitudinal ridges 3 on whichthe articles rest and slideto reduce the friction, and so that they will slide e'asily.` The articles to be dispensed are indicated as 4 and represent milk filled cartons although other articles will operate in the machine. f

Each guideway is defined by longitudinal guide rails 5 which have their lower ends turned downwardly at 6 and attached to a cross member 7 of the frame. The upper and rearwardly extending portions of the guide rails 5 may consist of flexible cables 8 which are stretched tightly and attached to a cross member 9 of the frame. By makto like parts in all of the ing the extensions S flexible they will not he bentout of shape by mishandling. .t

The lower end of each guideway terminates in a pair of rods 10 fastened to the under sides of theridges 3. These rods 10 are bent upwardly at 11 to form barriers and are thence inclined downwardly at 12 and attached to the cross member7 of the frame. These barriers 11 serve as stops for the articles which slide down onthe guideways.

A delivery shaft 13 surrounded for part of its length by a delivery tube 14, extend across the machine adjacent and slightly below the barriers 11 and have bearings in the side members 1 of the frame. The delivery tube 14 extends part way across the machine crossing one or more of the guideways and the exposed length of the delivery shaft 13 continues across the remainder of the machine crossing the other guideways. f

The delivery shaft and tube each `have flippers 15 rigidly attached thereto, said flippers being in the nature of paddles extending radially from the shaft and tube.

Rotation of either the shaft 13 or tube 14, which are independently rotatable, causes the flippers thereon to rise under the articles against the barriers 11 and `into a chute 16 located at the delivery end of the machine. lf there is more than one flipper on either shaft 13 or tube 14 the different flippers radiate at diiferent angles therefrom so that only one article will be iiipped over its barrier at one time.

The shaft 13 is journaled in a bearing 17 at one side of the machine and is provided with a collar 18 to prevent longitudinal movement. The tube 14 is journaled in a bearing 19 at the opposite side of the machine, the tube 14 projecting from the bearing and the shaft 13 `projecting from the tube. Two star wheels 20 and 21 are each respectively attached to the projecting ends of the shaft 13 and tube 14 in spaced relation and a sprocket 22 is mounted between them on either the shaft` or the tube for free rotation.

An electric motor 23 is mounted on the frame 1 and preferably has a reduction gear provided with a sprocket 24 and a chain 25 passes over the sprockets 22 and 24 causing movement of the chain around the sprockets when the motor runs.

The prongs of the star wheels 20 and 21 radiate outwardly slightly beyond the path of the chain where it passes over the sprocket 22. The chain 25 has lingers 26 projecting laterally therefrom at spaced intervals and on alternate sides and as the chain passes around the sprocket 22 the lingers 26 will alternately engagethe prongs of the respective star wheels 20 and 21causirlg alternate rotation of the shaft 13 and tube 14.

Airock shaft 27 extends across the machine above the chute 16 `having its opposite ends journaletl in vertical members 1 of the frame. Flexible fingers .28 attached to the rock shaft 27 swing over the chute 16 `as the shaft rocks. These lingers 28 are normally caused to swing toward the barriers` 11 by a Weight 29 xed to an end of the rock shaft. In this position the fingers 2S lie in the paths of articles which are flipped over `the barriers so that when an article is so flipped it will strike one or more of the fingers on its way to the chute causing `the shaft 27 to rock. A cam 30 iixed to the rock shaft 27 actuates an electric switch 31 to cause the motor to cease operation when the shaft is so rocked as hereafter described.

The coin controlled electric circuit is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 6. 32 represents a source of electric current. The wire 33 runs to the motor 23 and the wire 34 connects the motor with the normally closed switch 31. The Wire 3S runs from the switch 31 to an electro magnet 36 and the wire 37 connects the magnet 36 with a normally open coin actuated switch 38. .A wire 39 over its barrier 11.

escasa-a leadsrfrom the switch 38 to the source of current 32.

Allofsaid switches, motor and magnet are in series in the circuit.

The coin operated mechanism is represented diagram- 'matically Iby'a chute-*48u A coin passing through the chute 40 will close the switch 38 energizing the whole circuit including the magnet 36 Whichrholds the switch 38 closed after the `coin has passed through and causes the motorV 23 to run. When an article isilipped into the chute 16 it will strike the fingers 28 rocking the shaft 27 and causing the cam 3tl'to momentarily open the normally closed switch 31 thus breaking and cle-energizing the circuit and causing the holding magnet 36 to release the .normally .open switch 38. This action stops operation of the motor 23 and the whole mechanism will remain .idle until the circuit is again closed by passage of another coin.

Operation Assuming that the machine is supplied with articles 4 to slide down the guideways between the guide rails and stop against the barriers 11, insertion of a coin in the electric circuit which Will be held closed by the holding magnet 36 and the motor will start operation causing the chain 25 to travel around vthe sprockets 22 and 24.

As the chain travels around the sprocket 22 one of the ngers 26 thereon will engage one of the prongs on one of the star wheels 20 or 21. The Jlingers 26 extend alternately from opposite sides of the chain and are spaced longitudinally of the chain sufficiently so that only one of the star wheels will be operated at any time or at least will be operated to ip only one article at a time As the chain continues to travel around the sprocket 22 the nger thereon which is in engagement with one 'of the star wheels 20 attached to the shaft 13 or the stai wheel 21 attached to the tube 14 will cause rotation of either said shaft or tube and a flipper 15 thereon will rise under the lowermost article in its respective guideway, 'lifting it and flipping it over its barrier 11 from where it will slide down the inclined portions 12 of the rods 10. Batlle plates 41 on the upper sides of the guide rails 5 prevent the articles from toppling over sidewise as Vthey are ipped over the barriers.

As the article falls downwardly into the chute 16 it will strike a finger 28 causing it to move to rock the shaft 27 and operate the cam 30 thereon to open the switch 31 thus breaking the electric circuit and stopping operation of the motor 23. After the article has passed the ngers 28 the weight 29 on the rock shaft 27 will move the shaft and fingers 28 back to position where the ngers will be engaged by the next article to be dispensed. The chute 16 extends to a point of delivery and is inclined so that articles deposited therein will slide by gravity to where they may be picked up by the customer.

It will be seen that when the machine has several guideways, such as six, part of which are served by the shaft 13vand part by the tube 14, and the guideways are of considerable length, a great many articles, such as over 300 quarts of milk may be stored therein.

After the machine has been set into motion by deposit of a coin it will continue to operate until stopped by delivery of an article therefrom by striking the fingers 28. Thus if one or more of the guideways becomes empty the shaft 13 or tube 14 will continue to rotate until a ipper 15 thereon nds in another guideway an article to be flipped into the delivery chute 16 and the i machine will not fail to deliver an article upon deposit of a 4coin until all .of the guidewaysare empty. Conventional means may be provided to prevent insertion of a coin o1 to return the coin to the customer when the machine becomes completely empty.

The invention is defined by the appended claims which are to be considered comprehensive of all forms coming within their scope.

I claim:

l. A vending machine comprising, a plurality of guideways along which articles to be dispensed will move, a barrier in the path of each guideway against which said articles are stopped, an electric motor khaving a normally open electric circuit thereto, a coin operated mechanism acting to close said electric circuit, a plurality of sequentially operative dispensing devices each acting to move an individual article from a respective guideway past its barrier, means actuated by said electric motor to sequentially operate said dispensing devices, a deliverymeans into which articles are deposited from said barriers,l and means in the paths of said articles after they leave said barriers, actuated by passage of said articles, to opensaid electric circuit.

2. The elements of claim l in which said dispensing devices comprise two independently rotatable members which are sequentially rotated by said motor and` each having a flipper adjacent a respective barrier each `acting to raise an article over said barrier.

3, The elements ofclaim -1 in which said dispensing devices comprise a shaft and a tube surrounding said shaft for part of its length, a ilipper extending radially from each said shaft and tube adjacent a respectivebarrier, said motor actuated vmeans acting to sequentially rotate said shaft and'tube.

4. A vending machine comprising, a plurality of guideways along which articles to be dispensed will travel, a barrier in the path of each guideway against which said articles are stopped, an electric motor having a normally open electric circuit, a coin operated mechanism acting to close said electric circuit, a rotatable shaft extending across said guideways adjacent said barriers, a tube rotatably surrounding said shaft for a part of its length, a flipper extendingradially from each said shaft and tube adjacent respective barriers, said flippers acting to-raise articles over said barriers,a star wheel fixed to each said shaft and tube, a sprocket between said star wheels and freely rotatable about the axis of said shaft, a sprocket rotated by said motor, an endless chain passing around said sprockets, lingers spaced in the lengthof said chain and engageable with said star wheels, a delivery means into which articles are deposited'by said flippers, and means in the paths of said articles after theyleave said barriers, actuated by passage of said articles,"to open said electric circuit.

5. The elements of claim 4 in which said fingers extend alternately from opposite sides of said chain and alternately engage said Astar `wheels as the chain moves around said sprockets.

`References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,396,116 Hultgren Nov. 8, 1921 1,857,881 Scott May l0, 1932 2,368,018 Groth Ian. 23, 1945 2,569,988 Grau Oct. 2, 195i 

